Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view
Your Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is probably along with your helmet your prime piece of protection whilst on the water. Your PFD not only helps to keep you afloat it also offers vital padded protection for your body.
The Rescue PFD is something as yet I have not covered as part of the Pin Kit series. So here it is.
The NEW FXr buoyancy aid from Palm. from James Bebbington on Vimeo.
The same great cut of the FX but with a bunch of safety features! Barney our designer shows you this beauty!
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How do you improve one of the best selling PFDs on the market? How about adding a chest harness and additional knife storage.
Check out the new FXr from Palm. Presumably the R must stand for rescue or may be “really good”.
Firstly the Astral YTV PFD is not available in Europe but thanks to the Internet it is super easy to get hold of one.
I have had mine for a number of weeks and was able to put it through its paces on whitewater for the first time this week. A full review will be published in a couple of months, so in the meantime here is a little detail on the YTV Continue reading
Although not available in Europe I managed to get hold of the new Astral YTV PFD for review.
As yet it hasn’t been used in anger but first impressions are pretty good. Super light and super slim (unlike the model).
Below are a few shots of what must be a prototype Palm FX PFD. The front of the PFD looks the same as the production models with the exception of the zip pull running in the opposite direction.
The straps (other than colour) look just the same as the production models. Continue reading
How about this for a colour scheme?
The FX PFD from Palm Equipment has been around in one form or another for years and has been one of Palm’s top sellers throughout its lifetime. The new 2013 FX has really ramped up the design in terms of its looks, but how does it perform? Read on…
This is the top freestyle vest from US manufacturer Lotus. Lotus is one of the U.S’s top buoyancy aid or as they say PFD (personal flotation device) manufacturers, and at current they aren’t available in the UK, neither are they CE approved, however they do rock!
I obtained my ‘Lowrider’ via mail order from www.boatwerks.net a Canadian company with shops on the banks of the Ottawa, but most shops in the US and Canada stock them, so if your planning a trip, or don’t mind paying the shipping, its well worth it.
At first glance the ‘Lowrider’ is a sweet looking bit of kit, super low profile as the name suggests, and ultimate freedom of movement. It has straps on the shoulders and 2 on the sides to adjust and tighten the fit of the pfd including a unique internal harness that gives a good tight fit with out constricting breathing. It’s constructed of a solid cordura shell, and an Airtex type foam. Continue reading
During the late 80’s and early 90’s the Cow Tail seemed a pretty common accessory to have attached to your rescue PFD. Over the years they seem to have fallen out of favour.
May be this is a genuine change in focus of use or may be it’s because they are now an extra that needs to be paid for?
Palm FX Promo from Freestyle.inc on Vimeo.
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